House Releases Tri-Committee Merged Health Care Reform Bill
The House of Representatives released its updated version of the health care reform bill. H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, is the merged versions of the health care bills passed out of the House Energy & Commerce, Ways & Means, and the Education & Labor Committees. Debate and a vote in the full House will occur on November 7th.

HR 3962 would cover 96 percent of Americans, reduces the deficit and provides coverage for an additional 37 million Americans. It closes the drug benefit doughnut hole for seniors and sets a floor for Medicaid at 150 percent of federal poverty - about $33,075 for a family of four.

Continuing Resolution Continues Government Funding through December 18
The House-Senate appropriations conference committee approved the $32.24 billion FY 2010 Interior and Environment appropriations bill. The bill includes a Continuing Resolution that will keep the government running until Friday, December 18. The purpose of a Continuing Resolution, also known as a "CR," continues funding for a program if the fiscal year ends without a new appropriation in place. The current CR provides temporary funding at the current FY 2009 levels or less.

The CR includes funding for important cancer programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The full House and Senate are expected to approve the bill and send it to the President in early November.

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